Dispenser for concentrates



United States Patent() .DISPENSER FDR CONCENTRATES Carl C. Bauerlein, Mukwonago, Wis., assignor to The Dole Valve Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application May 11, 1953, Serial No. 354,320

8 Claims. v(Cl. Z22-129.2)

Thisinvention relates to improvements in dispensers. for diluting and dispensing fluids or concentrates, such as concentrated juices, malts, liquors, colas,'avors and the like.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel and simplified form of dispenser for dispensing concentrates and particularly concentrated fruit juices directly `from the container in which the concentrates are supplied.

A further object of my invention is to provide a dispenser wherein a uniform volume of diluting lluid under pressure aspires the concentrate directly from a container and mixes therewith.

Another object ofrmy invention is to provide an ecient form of dispense; for dispensing concentrates directly from a concentrate container, wherein the concentrate is dispensed and mixed with a diluting fluid by the aspirating action of the fluid under pressure passing through a throat of a venturi, wherein the concentrate is contained in the container at atmospheric pressure and wherein a tube leading from the downstream side of the throat` of the venturi is insertable in the container for aspirating a concentrate therefrom.

' Still another object ofv my invention is to provide a novel and simple form of dispenser for concentrates or uids directly from a container containing the concentrate, wherein the mixing and control of the flow of the concentrate is attained by the flow of the diluting water container by the diluting fluid for the concentrate and ff controls the flow of the diluting fluid to provide a uniform ow of diluting uid regardless of variations in pressure of the'diluting fluid at the source.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a Vnew and improved apparatus to dispense concentrates directly from a concentrate container at atmospheric pressures in which the container is contained in a casing and the cover for the casing has a venturi and a tube lead- -ing thereupon and extending into the interior of the concentrate container, and the mixing fluid passageway and venturi form a hinge for the cover for thecasing.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a simplified and improved form of dispenser for dispensing concentrates directly from a concentrate can, in which the cover for the casing for the can has a venturi thereon and an aspirating tube leading from the `throat of the venturi lwithin `the can, .and wherein pivotal movement of the cover into ta ,closed position inserts the aspirating tube within the can and withdraws it from the can .when the cover is opened.

These vand yother objects of my invention will appear from time to time as the following specication proceeds and with reference to the accompanying drawings Vtherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view taken through a dispenser constructed in accordance with my invention; and

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line II-II of Figure 1.

In the drawings, I have shown a fragmentary section taken through a dispenser constructed in accordance with my invention, for diluting and dispensing various types of concentrates or uids, such as concentrated fruit juices, vegetable juices, malts, liquors, colas, avors and the like directly from the concentrate containing can, and particularly adapted to dilute concentrated fruit and vegetable juices to the normal consistency of the juice of the fresh natural fruit or vegetable, and deliver a cool uniformly mixed juice for drinking purposes.

The dispenser, may include a casing ,10 mounted on a base 11. The casing 10 may be cylindrical in form and may have a ,bottom spaced above the base 11, recessed to provide an annular shoulder 14 receiving the bead of the bottom of a lcan 15, which may contain the concentrate to be dispensed, and centering the `can With respect to the Wall of the casing 10. The can may be pierced by the usual form of piercing opener used for opening cans containing fluids to accommodate an arcuate dispensing tube 16 to vbe extended therein. It should be understood that in the present instance, while the concentrate contained within the can may be free flowing,A it is usually thick and in a slushy state atatmospheric pressure and is taken from the can by suction attained by the diluting fluid owing through a venturi member 17 with which the tube communicates, as will hereinafter more clearly appear as this specification proceeds.

A support arm 13 of a support i9 for a cup or glass 2l) extends beneath the bottom 12 and is pivotally mounted on spaced spacer plates 21, 2l on a transverse pivot pin 22. A water valve 23 for the diluting water is shown as being mounted in the base il, adjacent the forward end o r" the casing and as having a push button 2d slidably mounted therein and extending upwardly therefrom. The push button 24 forms on its upper end, a support for the arm 18 and opens the valve 23, for the flow of water through a pipe 25 to the venturi member 17. The pipe is shown as being connected with a tting 26 having a male fitting 27 threaded therein. The male fitting 27 is shown as being shouldered at its interior and as having a exible ow control annulus 29 abutting the shouldered portion thereof to flex inwardly of the shoulder of the fitting 27 as the pressure of water against said annulus increases. This will reduce the flow area of the orifice through said annulus, and maintain the volume of water flowing therethrough uniform as the pressure increases, as in the ow control of Patent No. 2,389,134, which issued to Clyde A. Brown on November 20, 1945, and no part of my present invention, so not herein shown or described further.

The fitting 27 is shown as having a pipe 30 forming a continuation thereof and communicating with a passage Way 31 in a posty 32, extending upwardly along the rear end portion o f the casing 19. The post 32 is shown ashaving a depending boss Vextending downwardly within a boss portion 34 of the casing 16 and secured to said boss portion and ,to the base 11 as by a machine screw 35, threaded therein from the bottom of said base. The post 32 likewise has a passageway Se for diluting water ,leading upwardly ,therealong and forms a pivotal support at its upper end for a dispensing arm 37.

Varrn 37.

As herein shown the closed upper end portion of the post 32 is of an arcuate form, the center of the arc of which is struck about the center of a recess 44 in the bearing member 40 about which the dispensing arm 37 pivots. The hollow depending portion 43 of the dispensing arm 37 is shown as being flattened on opposite sides thereof, one. side of which extends along the bearing member 40 and has a boss 46 extending inwardly therefrom. The boss 46 has pivotal engagement with the recessed portion 44 of the bearing member 40, to pivot thereabout. The upper end portion of the post 32 has an annular threaded portion 48 extending along the opposite side of the depending portion 43 from the boss 46 and threaded to receive a retaining nut 49, threaded therein and biasing a leaf spring 50 into engagement with the wall of the depending portion 43. An annular seal 51 encircles the opening 39, coaxial with the center of the boss 46 and abuts the depending portion 43 of dispensing arm37, to seal water from leaking at the pivotal joint between said post and dispensing arm.

When the dispensing arm 37 is in the position shown in Figures l and 2, fluid will freely ow through the passageway 36 out the passageway 41 and intovthe passageway 42 and along a passageway 53 extending along Vthe dispensing arm 37 to the forward end thereof. VlWhen,

however, the dispensing arm 37 is pivoted upward about the axis of the boss 46, the passageway 42 will come into engagement with the outer face of the sealing member 40 and out of registry of the passageway 41, to shut off the llow of water through the dispensing arm 37.

The dispensing arm 37 is shown as having a ttingV member 17 and terminating into the base of a frustox conical passageway 59, forming the upstream side of the venturi. The apex of the passageway 59 leads into a reduced diameter neck terminating into vacuum chamber 60, which in turn communicates with an inverted truncated cone-like passageway 61, leading into a passageway 62 of a downwardly turned spout 63, directed to direct the mixed concentrate into the glass or cup 20.

. The venturi member 17 likewise has a downwardly extending hollow boss 64 extending through a cover 65 of the container 10 and secured thereto, to open and close said cover upon pivotal movement of the dispensing arm 37 about the axis of the boss 46. The cover 65 may be of any well known form, and is provided to prevent foreign matter from getting into the concentrate can during the dispensing of concentrate therefrom, and may be a relatively loosely fitting coverto retain the pressures within the casing 19 at substantially atmospheric pressure.

Within the boss 64 is mounted a fitting member 67 having a vacuum chamber 69 at its upper end portion,

communicating with a truncated cone-like passageway 70, the apex of which opens into the vacuum chamber 60. The bottom of the vacuum chamber 69 is being shown as of an inverted truncated cone-like form and as having a passageway 71 leading therefrom, from which extends the arcuate tube 16. A ball 72 is shown as being Prevssd in the eh-amber 69 and @Deanna the milth af the passageway 71, and serving as a check valve, to prevent the dispensing and diluting uid from leaking into the concentrate can, when the water valve 23 is shut oft'.

The tube 16 is shown as being curved about an arc struck from substantially the center of the boss 46. The tube 16 thus passes through the pierced opening of the can 15, when the dispensing arm is pivoted downwardly. The lower end of said tube is shown as being positioned at substantially the bottomV of the can, when the cover is closed.

It may be seen from the foregoing that a novel an simplified form of dispenser for dispensing concentrates directly from the concentrate containing can has been provided, in which the concentrate is aspirated from the can, by the mixing fluid supplied in a uniform volume through the ilow control annulus 29, to mix with and dilute the concentrate.

It may further be seen that when the dispensing arm 37 is in an uppermost position and the cover 65 is completely opened, that the aspirating tube 16 is removed from the inside of theV concentrate can and accommodates the ready removal of empty cans and insertion of full cans within the container 10. Y y

It may also be seen that when the arm 37 is up that the supply of water through the venturi is shut off, thus avoiding the discharge of water through the venturi in case the valve 23 should accidentally be turned on, and that when inserting a new pierced can within the Vcontainer it is simply necessary to position the pierced opening of the can Vso the leading end of the tube V16 will pass therethrough, and then pivot the arm 37 and cover 65 dowwnardly to close the top of the container, at which time the dispenser is ready to dispense the concentrate merely by pressing down on the glass 20 or the armk 18.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departingfrom the scope of the tion to extend along said casing, said venturi having aV throat and a vacuum chamber communicating therewith, an aspirating tube'l'eading'from said vacuum Vchamber and formed to conform to the path of movementwof said venturi to move into the opening formed by the pierced top of the concentrate container Vwithin said casing as said venturi is moved to extend along said casing, Aa water valve and a fluid conduit connecting said water valve with said venturi, and a check valve in said vacuum chamber, blocking the seeping of water through .said aspirating tube when said water valve is turned off ,and opening upon the creation of a vacuum within said vacuum chamber upon the turning on ofV said water valve.

2. In an apparatus for dispensing concentrates directly from a concentrate container, a casing adapted to receive and encase a concentrate container, a pivoted venturi member movable from a position out of registry with said casing into a position to extend along said casing, said venturi member having a venturi Vtherein having a restricted throat and a vacuum chamber communicating therewith and depending therefrom, an arcuate aspirating tube leading from said vacuuml chamber and formed on an arc struck from the axis of pivotal movement of said venturi member to move within the concentrate container upon downward movement of said venturi member, a valve controlling the passage Vof aspirating and diluting water into said venturi, a pressure line from seeping into the concentrate container ,whenV said water valve is turned 0E.

3. ln an apparatus for dispensing concentrates directly from a can containing the concentrates, a casing adapted to receive a can of concentrates, a pivoted venturi member movable from a position free from the open portion of said casing to extend along said casing across the open portion thereof, said venturi member having a venturi extending therealong having a restricted throat and a vacuum chamber communicating therewith and depending therefrom, an arcuate aspirating tube leading from said vacuum chamber, the arc of said tube being struck about the axis of pivotal movement of said venturi, to position the lower end of said tube adjacent the bottom and one end of the can when said venturi is in position over the top of said container, a water valve, uid passageway means connecting said water valve with said venturi and having a uniform volume control valve therein, providing a uniform volume of mixing uid regardless of pressure variations in the water at the source, and a check valve in said vacuum chamber preventing the seepage of water into said concentrate tube when said water valve is turned off.

4. A dispenser of a type adapted to dilute and dispense concentrates directly from a can, a casing adapted to contain a concentrate can, a cover for said casing, a venturi member mounted on said cover, and having a venturi extending therealong having a restricted throat, an aspirating tube leading from said venturi on the downstream side of said throat, means mounting said venturi ember for pivotal movement about a transverse axis, to open said cover for the insertion and removal of concentrate cans within said container, and a conduit for mixing and aspirating Huid having connection with said venturi member through said pivotal mounting means therefor.

5. A dispenser of a type adapted to dilute and dispense concentrates directly from a concentrate container comprising a casing having a cover, a venturi member extending along said cover having a venturi extending therealong having a restricted throat and a vacuum chamber communicating with said throat, a hollow upright post having a water passageway leading therethrough, a pivotal mounting for said venturi member on the upper end of said post, mounting said venturi member and cover for upward swinging movement out of registry with said casing for the replacement of concentrate containers therein, a uid passageway through said pivotal mounting from the hollow interior of said post to said venturi member, an aspirating tube leading from said vacuum chamber and movable within an opening into a concentrate container in said casing, upon downward pivotal movement of said venturi member to close said cover, a check valve in said vacuum chamber opening upon the creation of a vacuum therein by the passage of diluting water through said venturi, said check valve closing the upper end of said tube when the ow of water through said venturi stops, to block water from seeping into the concentrate container upon the completion of a mixing and dispensing operation.

6. A dispenser of a type adapted to dilute and dispense concentrates directly from a can, comprising a casing having a cover, a Venturi member extending along the top of said cover and mounted thereon, said Venturi member having a Venturi extending therealong with a restricted throat and a vacuum chamber communicating with said throat and leading to the interior of said cover and also having a discharge spout forming a continuation of said Venturi, a hollow upright post having a water passageway leading therethrough, a hollow dispensing arm transversely pivoted to said post and having communication with said water passageway through said pivotal mounting, said dispensing arm having said Venturi member and cover mounted thereon, a uid passageway leading from said ilow control member to the interior of said post for supplying fluid under pressure thereto, an aspirating tube leading from said vacuum chamber and formed on an arc struck from the center of pivotal movement of said dispensing arm, to enter a pierced top of a can in said casing and move therein to a position adjacent the bottom of the can upon downward pivotal movement of said Venturi member and the closing of said cover.

7. A dispenser of a type adapted to dilute and dispense concentrates directly from a can, comprising a casing having a cover, a Venturi member extending along the top of said cover and mounted thereon, said Venturi member having a venturi extending therealong with a restricted throat and a vacuum chamber communicating with said throat and leading to the interior of said cover and also having a discharge spout forming a continuation of said venturi, a hollow upright post having a water passageway leading therethrough, a hollow dispensing arm transversely pivoted to said post and having communication with said Water passageway through said pivotal mounting, said dispensing arm having said Venturi member and cover mounted thereon, a Huid passageway leading from said flow control member to the interior of said post for supplying uid under pressure thereto, an aspirating tube leading from said vacuum chamber and formed on an arc struck from the center of pivotal movement of said dispensing arm, to enter a pierced top of a can in said casing and move therein `to a position adjacent the bottom of the can upon downward pivotal movement of said Venturi member and the closing of said cover, and the uid connection through said pivotal mounting including means shutting off the supply of fluid to said venturi by upward movement of said venturi and arm.

8. In a dispenser for dispensing concentrates from a concentrate container, a casing for receiving a concentrate container, a venturi extending along the top of said casing in vertically spaced relation with respect thereto and pivotally mounted for movement toward and from said casing and having a throat and a discharge spout forming a continuation of said venturi on the downstream side of said throat, an aspirating tube leading from the downstream side of said throat and formed on an arc to pass within a noutlet opening in the container upon downward pivotal movement of said venturi, a passageway for diluting uid leading to said venturi and having flow control means therein, maintaining a uniform ow rate of diluting uid to said venturi, for creating a reduction in pressure at said throat and for aspirating concentrate from said container and diluting the concentrate, and valve meansl closing said aspirating tube and blocking the diluting fluid from entering the conentrate chamber when `the flow of diluting fluid is turned oi.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 809,026 Snypp Jan. 2, 1906 1,036,871 Matheson Aug. 27, 1912 1,959,961 Neil May 22,. 1934 2,040,087 Hackl May 12, 1936 2,606,068 Bonacor Aug. 5, 1952 2,716,507 Graves Aug. 30, 1955 

